Newsletter # 7
Das' newsletter is emailed periodically. If you are not already on the distribution list and would like to be, please email: das@legendarysurfers.com (Das' email address for the newsletter only).
DAS WILLIAMS Newsletter # 7, April 2009
Contents:
1. Outer Continental Shelf Oil Drilling
2. Westside Cleanup - April 25
3. Townhall Meeting on Education - May 1
4. Recommended 2010 Available for Review
Dear Friends and Family,
It's been crazy busy for me lately and I'm excited to share some updates about the positive things that have been going on. Jennifer had her cartilage graft surgery this past weekend and has been such a trooper through this entire process. She's on the path to recovery and we couldn't be more thrilled.
1. Last week, I had a small group meeting with President Obama's new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in San Francisco, and even had the opportunity to talk to him one-on-one for one minute. I made that 60 seconds count, telling him we are willing to look at alternative energy, but that new oil drilling is unacceptable. As part of a delegation which spoke against the issuance of new leases to drill oil on California's Outer Continental Shelf, we asked that all areas off the California coast be left out of the plan for new drilling leases, particularly Santa Barbara due to its immense biodiversity and the fact that it is already burdened by more than its share of oil operations.
2. [from the Daily Sound] "Santa Barbara city and community leaders are organizing a cleanup of the Westside neighborhood designed to pick up litter, remove graffiti, and document broken sidewalks and damaged signs.
"Participants will meet at the Westside Community Center parking lot at 423 W. Victoria St. at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. Organizers will put together cleanup teams, hand out materials and supplies, and assign volunteers to various designated areas throughout the neighborhood.
"Most of the work is expected to take place within the boundaries of Castillo, Micheltorena, De la Vina and Figueroa streets. More information is available by calling Antonio Velasquez, the city's community services supervisor, at 963-7657."
3. Over the past couple months, I've had several conversations with teachers and school board members who are all wondering how they are going to properly educate our children without adequate state funding. As a school board member myself, I'm very familiar with their concerns. It is for this reason that I invited Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the California State Senate Education Committee, to attend a townhall meeting in our community. Together, we can use this forum to inform state leaders about the damage that budget cuts are doing to our public education system, and therefore to our kids. I'd love it if you could attend and help defend public education funding. Here are the details:
Place: Foothill Tech High, Spirito Hall (100 Day Rd, Ventura)
Time: Friday, May 1st 4-6pm
RSVP/ send statement to: Das.Williams09@gmail.com
4. The balanced, but not yet fixed draft budget for the City of Santa Barbara is now available for review.
[from the city's press release, 4/21/09] "The City of Santa Barbara released its Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2010, initiatingCity Council and public review of the proposed plan. The budget includes a total operating budget of $253.2 million and a capital budget totaling $29.2 million. The General Fund operating budget is $104.7 million, providing funding for police, fire, parks, recreation, library, community development, and administrative services.
"Due to declining revenues, the City estimates a $10.8 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009, if no actions are taken. This represents approximately 10% of the General Fund operating budget. The budget balancing strategy involves a combination of the following measures: 1) department budget reductions; 2) increases in various fees and charges; 3) citywide labor measures such as a mandatory furlough; 4) structural budget changes; and 5) delays to capital improvements.
"During April and May, each department budget will be presented to Council with an overview of revenues, expenses, balancing strategy, service impacts, and proposed work plan for the upcoming year. The City Council will adopt a budget by June 30, 2009.
"According to City Administrator Jim Armstrong, "I am proud of the professionalism in which the organization dealt with these difficult decisions, and the strong emphasis on maintaining services, while trying to minimize employee layoffs."
The budget document, a schedule of public review meetings, frequently asked questions, and videos of Council budget discussions are available on the City's website at: www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov. The budget document is also available at the City Clerk's Office at 735 Anacapa Street and the Public Library at 40 E. Anapamu Street."
For more information, Contact: Nina Johnson, Assistant to the City Administrator
Phone: 805-564-5307 | Fax: 805-897-1993, NJohnson@SantaBarbaraCA.gov
Thank you for reading my periodic newsletter. Please share with family and friends.
DAS
DAS WILLIAMS Newsletter # 7, April 2009
Contents:
1. Outer Continental Shelf Oil Drilling
2. Westside Cleanup - April 25
3. Townhall Meeting on Education - May 1
4. Recommended 2010 Available for Review
Dear Friends and Family,
It's been crazy busy for me lately and I'm excited to share some updates about the positive things that have been going on. Jennifer had her cartilage graft surgery this past weekend and has been such a trooper through this entire process. She's on the path to recovery and we couldn't be more thrilled.
1. Last week, I had a small group meeting with President Obama's new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in San Francisco, and even had the opportunity to talk to him one-on-one for one minute. I made that 60 seconds count, telling him we are willing to look at alternative energy, but that new oil drilling is unacceptable. As part of a delegation which spoke against the issuance of new leases to drill oil on California's Outer Continental Shelf, we asked that all areas off the California coast be left out of the plan for new drilling leases, particularly Santa Barbara due to its immense biodiversity and the fact that it is already burdened by more than its share of oil operations.
2. [from the Daily Sound] "Santa Barbara city and community leaders are organizing a cleanup of the Westside neighborhood designed to pick up litter, remove graffiti, and document broken sidewalks and damaged signs.
"Participants will meet at the Westside Community Center parking lot at 423 W. Victoria St. at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. Organizers will put together cleanup teams, hand out materials and supplies, and assign volunteers to various designated areas throughout the neighborhood.
"Most of the work is expected to take place within the boundaries of Castillo, Micheltorena, De la Vina and Figueroa streets. More information is available by calling Antonio Velasquez, the city's community services supervisor, at 963-7657."
3. Over the past couple months, I've had several conversations with teachers and school board members who are all wondering how they are going to properly educate our children without adequate state funding. As a school board member myself, I'm very familiar with their concerns. It is for this reason that I invited Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the California State Senate Education Committee, to attend a townhall meeting in our community. Together, we can use this forum to inform state leaders about the damage that budget cuts are doing to our public education system, and therefore to our kids. I'd love it if you could attend and help defend public education funding. Here are the details:
Place: Foothill Tech High, Spirito Hall (100 Day Rd, Ventura)
Time: Friday, May 1st 4-6pm
RSVP/ send statement to: Das.Williams09@gmail.com
4. The balanced, but not yet fixed draft budget for the City of Santa Barbara is now available for review.
[from the city's press release, 4/21/09] "The City of Santa Barbara released its Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2010, initiatingCity Council and public review of the proposed plan. The budget includes a total operating budget of $253.2 million and a capital budget totaling $29.2 million. The General Fund operating budget is $104.7 million, providing funding for police, fire, parks, recreation, library, community development, and administrative services.
"Due to declining revenues, the City estimates a $10.8 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009, if no actions are taken. This represents approximately 10% of the General Fund operating budget. The budget balancing strategy involves a combination of the following measures: 1) department budget reductions; 2) increases in various fees and charges; 3) citywide labor measures such as a mandatory furlough; 4) structural budget changes; and 5) delays to capital improvements.
"During April and May, each department budget will be presented to Council with an overview of revenues, expenses, balancing strategy, service impacts, and proposed work plan for the upcoming year. The City Council will adopt a budget by June 30, 2009.
"According to City Administrator Jim Armstrong, "I am proud of the professionalism in which the organization dealt with these difficult decisions, and the strong emphasis on maintaining services, while trying to minimize employee layoffs."
The budget document, a schedule of public review meetings, frequently asked questions, and videos of Council budget discussions are available on the City's website at: www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov. The budget document is also available at the City Clerk's Office at 735 Anacapa Street and the Public Library at 40 E. Anapamu Street."
For more information, Contact: Nina Johnson, Assistant to the City Administrator
Phone: 805-564-5307 | Fax: 805-897-1993, NJohnson@SantaBarbaraCA.gov
Thank you for reading my periodic newsletter. Please share with family and friends.
DAS
Labels: 2010, budget, newsletter, offshore oil drilling
posted by Malcolm
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4/24/2009
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